News of a mother and son’s victory in court after receiving a $120 million jury award in a delayed cesarean c-section medical malpractice case in Michigan hit the front pages of news websites and outlets this week and serves as a reminder that patients do have options for justice against negligent doctors.
According to the Detroit Free Press, a Wayne County, Michigan jury awarded Kristen Drake and her son, K’Jon with $12 million in economic and non-economic damages, comprising what is said to be one of the “larger” jury verdicts in Michigan for a medical malpractice case, and generally.
The case began when Ms. Drake went to the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in June, 2020. She was at term with K’Jon, but not ready for delivery, and when she arrived at the hospital, a fetal monitor indicated “non-reassuring fetal heart tones” and a C-section was ordered to deliver K’Jon. However, the C-section procedure was then delayed by the hospital for more than 2 hours, causing K’Jon “severe asphyxiation” and, ultimately, cerebral palsy and brain damage that is irreversible. Medical malpractice lawyers for Ms. Drake and K’Jon said of the horrible delay resulting in permanent injury to K’Jon, “This child will need medical and home care for the rest of his life, and while we cannot give him the quality of life he would have had but for this injury, we can only hope to give his additional therapies and services to help him deal with his disabilities and protect him from the possibility of an early demise…This injury should have never happened. It was foreseeable and entirely preventable. We hope this verdict serves as a reminder to the obstetrical community that they should act expediently in the presence of non-reassuring fetal monitor patterns.”
As for K’Jon today, his attorneys also note that “Currently, K’Jon suffers from severe brain damage / cerebral palsy and has a seizure disorder. He is non-verbal. K’Jon needs to wear leg braces and utilizes a wheelchair. His vision is extremely limited. K’Jon is completely dependent upon his mother and grandmother. In sum, the injuries and damages are catastrophic.”
Help for Victims of Medical Malpractice by Doctors in New York City
If you or a loved one has been injured by a doctor’s failure to meet the standard of accepted medical care in New York City, it is important to learn about your rights and options under New York laws. The experienced New York City medical malpractice lawyers at the law office of Michael Gunzburg, P.C. are here to help New York City medical malpractice victims get justice. They offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can fight for you. Contact the law firm of Michael Gunzburg, P.C. today and speak to an experienced New York City medical malpractice lawyer about your rights and options under New York laws for free.
Source:
freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2024/04/02/henry-ford-health-caesarean-lawsuit-kirsten-drake/73172037007/